Laboratory News

Overview

The Observational Cosmology Laboratory conducts research to improve understanding of the origin, evolution and ultimate fate of the universe. Specific issues under investigation include what powered the Big Bang; the size, shape, and matter-energy content of the universe; when the first stars and galaxies appeared and their evolution over cosmic time; and the nature of the mysterious dark energy that is driving the universe apart.

A comparison of all-sky image of temperature fluctuations in the early universe with COBE (upper image)
and the WMAP (lower image). Science operations for WMAP are conducted in the ASD (Bennett, PI)